2/28/10

If you'd like to join in the fun, do a short vlog on your blog answering the week's questions (however many you choose), post the above button on your site and link up at Eighty MPH Mom. Visit the other participants, learn about them and have fun! Trust me, if I can do it, then you can. Plus you can send in your questions to Jennifer for the next mingle via the form on her site. Come on jump in!

I love the idea of garden but have not done it before. I intend to do so this year. I can at least try. I don't really know many flowers by name but surely love the colors of Perry Morse and Chrysanthemums. Am I late for Spring? I start inside because outside is freezing.

I don't drink Pepsi or coke. I am a water girl.I will take Milk Chocolates thank you. Of course Dark Chocolate is very good for you because of the health benefits of the flavanoids, but it taste bitter, so if anyone knows of a good dark chocolate, do let me know.

3. What nationality(s) are you? Or what is the primary one?

I am from the Caribbean isle of Jamaica. I am a Jamaican. However I'm now a US citizen by naturalization. Dual? not sure if that works anymore when you swear allegiance to another country. So I'm American.

4. Do you watch the Winter Olympics? What is your favorite sport?

Yes. Yes. Yes! And I loved it. I watched all the sporting events and the only one that still befuddles me is Curling. Can someone explain this one to me?I even watched Hockey!!!!

I'm not sure I had /have a favorite. I like all the events ...Especially cheering for Apolo Ohno in speed skating. He is so good at what he does! Whew!

I'll try to be on top of visiting this week. Looking forward to catching up.

Have a great week!

Next week's questions:

1. Do your kids have chores? Do you pay them to do chores?

2. Were you in Girl Scouts/Brownies or Boy Scouts? Are your kids? Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

3. Does your family go camping? If so, do you have a funny/interesting experience?

2. Record a vlog answering the questions.3. Post the Monday Mingle button on right hand side (and/or link to Eighty MPH Mom), along with your vlog on your blog (remember this us an excellent way to bring new readers to your blog). 4. After your post is up, put the link to your blog/mingle in the linky on Eighty MPH Mom (so others can see yours!).

5. Visit the other "minglers" and leave comments. Also try to follow other minglers and maybe they will do the same!

Have fun!

**It is important to link to Eighty MPH Mom, so people can easily find the other minglers.

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

I would love to go to a mom conference, but I think it would be hard with my husband’s work schedule and my young kids at home right now, and also I’m not in a certain league of bloggers where I’d get sponsorship as easily just yet. It is just a reality.

This is a very good post highlighting some of the various experiences and also giving your personal experience and what you did to change the outcome.

As conferences for moms, I’d think they’d work out ways to ensure everyone felt involved, if even by doing some sort of buddy system that gets widened and interlinked as the conference goes on.

Mommy cliques do exist and while not all of these groups are negative, there are some who definitely will look down the nose at others and fight to get the favor of one they deem successful. It is the way life seem to flow. So we should not gloss over the experience of one who says they felt snubbed.

We have seen that even in the blog community online, many will viciously attack each other and also get others involved to do this dirty work too.

People are easily influenced when it suits their palate.

I have heard both negative and positive about these conferences, but it would not deter me from attending and having my own experiences.

It is true that in all areas of life there will be positives and negatives.
I would suggest that moms/dads try to attend the conference with someone they know so that they can have some sort of support system as they navigate all the different events and various groups and individuals they will likely meet.

It is good for us to share our experiences so that we can learn better ways to deal with a situation or get the support we need to bolster ourselves in a tough world.

How did you feel after leaving a conference (i.e. Blogher) or a visit with other mommies in a group setting?

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

I used to love cooking. It was sort of an art and to watch people lick their fingers and enjoy my meal was so satisfying. I still enjoy cooking, but now it's more of a chore sometimes because I have to do it most every day to ensure that my family have a hot home cooked meal. It was definitely when I had to cook for 50 girls at the orphanage! Oh how I hated that but you couldn't hate it while doing it, you had to put all you had in it to get it done and on time.

I remember as a child, one of the most delicious meals I ate with the use of coconut and coconut oil was called 'rundown'. That's the famous Jamaican rundown which can be done with a variety of other meats but coconut and coconut oil is the main ingredient to make it 'rundown'. I tell you, this is just so good that it will clide you.

I simply must do this recipe again! I can smell it, just by talking about it.

Using the Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil definitely brought back alot of memories of my country and made cooking so tantalizing, waiting to taste what I had made with the oil.

Right now I use the oil to make regular dishes such as fried dumplings (Jamaican dish), eggs, sautees etc. My next big menu will be the rundown! I wont have all the ingredients here in America, but I will at least try it.

Characteristics of Our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

This Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil. This coconut oil is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines. Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world! Testing done in independent laboratories reveals higher levels of phenolic antioxidants than other coconut oils. The fresh coconut meat is shredded (wet milled), and then cold-pressed using the water from inside the coconuts to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil is then filtered from the curds (coconut solids). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used, and this oil contains no trans fatty acids. We do NOT mass produce this oil. It is made by families who are coconut farmers using old-fashioned traditional methods that have been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Our coconut trees and family producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. The families who produce the oil are also trained according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and re-certified each year. This high-grade Virgin Coconut Oil has a long shelf life due to the high antioxidant properties. The Gold Label standard is our highest standard for Virgin Coconut Oil. Read more.

Transporting organic coconuts far away from the pollution of any city or roads in the rural mountain areas of Mt. Banahaw in the Philippines, in preparation to make Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

For other interesting ways to use the coconut oil in cooking, check out their Free Recipe Website. and you can Subscribe to Tropical Traditions newsletter if you desire.

If you desire to own a complimentary copy of the virgin coconut oil, click here. You will have to take part in their referral program.

Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

I am from the Caribbean and while it might seem exotic to most who doesn't live there. Times are really hard and families do struggle to put food on the table. Sometimes you will visit and feel so at home that you might not even notice the poverty. Communities do come together and families do everything they can to stay close and share their food and home.

Our homes are usually decorated with such color and warm touches that anyone that comes into the doorway immediately feel at home and want to stay awhile.

The smell of cooking always lingers and tummies will growl, until soothed with finger-lickin' goodness.

The soothing or upbeat music calls everyone to mingle, and with all these little touches and so many more, for us, we make our family home.

It's not just a building. It's life together, being molded with time to strengthen bonds.

I lived in a building most of my life. It is called an orphanage. There were no nurturing or positive teachings encouraging ones future or any home comforts you can imagine. Myself like so many, left that building, broken within.

So now as a mother, more than ever I understand the need for making my house a home so that everyone who comes and passes through will have memories and wishes to visit again, even stay awhile. Most importantly that my children will leave with a healthy view of their lives and future.

I was delighted to read Shannon's book 'Making A Family Home" because it encourages and gives me new ideas in making my family home.

Making A Family Home is definitely one book you'd love on your coffee table. It is peppered with the most adorable photographs by Skip Hunt and it is quite easy to read and very insightful.

When creating a family home, channel Grandma
Room by room, guide offers practical hints for making a house a home

AUSTIN, Texas – In the past few years, “slow” has made quite a comeback. The Slow Movement. The Slow Food Movement. Bolstered by the recent recession, old-school practices like home cooking, shopping at the farmer’s market, knitting and sewing are now in vogue, providing a welcome reprieve from our typically teched-out, anxious and fast-paced existence. But in a culture of text messages, Twitter and information overload, how can we support the values of a simpler time? More importantly, how can we pass on ‘slow’ to a generation of Baby Einstein grads?

According to author Shannon Honeybloom, it all starts at home. In her new book "Making a Family Home" (SteinerBooks, January 2010, $20.00, Softcover), she shows readers room-by-room how to cultivate an enriching shelter, one that encourages children to learn and imagine.

Combining the mindfulness of modern homemakers with an understanding of childhood development, and an attention to universal truths such as love, goodness and beauty, Honeybloom outlines simple steps towards creating a beautiful and nurturing home.

“Anxiety-driven over-parenting has reached a peak, and parents everywhere are yearning to get ‘back to basics’ at home and with their children,” says Honeybloom, a parent and former educator. “In the end, it’s not about enrichment classes, educational videos, multiple after-school activities. It’s not about spending a lot of money or buying a lot of things. It’s about creating a calm, beautiful, and healthy home for our families. Such a home is the foundation for happiness and success in the world.”

A former high schoolEnglish teacher in New York, as well as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, Honeybloom has inhabited a wide variety of homes during her adult life, from a cramped Brooklyn apartment to an adobe dwelling in the desert. It was when she settled down in Austin, Texas, eventually becoming a mother of three, that she sought to create a living, artistic home. And for that, she turned to the wisdom of her grandmother.

“My grandmother imbued her household with love, simplicity, and joy,” says Honeybloom. “In putting together my own home, I asked myself: What makes a space sheltering, harmonious, and healthy? What kinds of materials can be used that help the development of my children? So I wrote this book to share my discoveries.”

Inside "Making a Family Home," readers will also learn:

• How to make your home warm and cozy

• How to support your child’s development at home

• How to involve your children in homemaking – cooking, crafting, cleaning, and so on

• How to create routines that support difficult transitions (bedtime, mealtime, and so on)

• How to get more play and leisure use out of your yard

• How to create a community of support for your family life

Shannon Honeybloom earned her M.A. in Literary Cultures from New York University and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Sunbridge College. It was during graduate school that she began an academic study of domestic arts, which provided the foundation for "Making a Family Home." In addition, Honeybloom’s original screenplay "Borders" was a finalist in the 2009 International Cinema City Film Festival in Los Angeles. She is currently working on another novel and a second screenplay, and lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and her three children. To learn more, please visit www.shannonhoneybloom.com.

I don't give mine out unless it is for legitimate reasons such as Insurance forms, DMV, Renewing a passport etc. Otherwise I offer to use my driver's license or passport/visa as identification.

Kailanisays "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!me

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

2/21/10

If you'd like to join in the fun, do a short vlog on your blog answering the week's questions (however many you choose), post the above button on your site and link up at Eighty MPH Mom. Visit the other participants, learn about them and have fun! Trust me, if I can do it, then you can. Plus you can send in your questions to Jennifer for the next mingle via the form on her site. Come on jump in!
*I'll add my video when it's done uploading. My answers are written out below*

This week's questions:

1. Name your five favorite movies:

A. Shawshrank Redemption - I always remember this from childhood and it's a really good movie that I intend to watch again soon since I've forgotten some of the details.

B. The Notebook - I kept hearing everyone talk about The Notebook and finally saw it on tv lastnight. I watched some of it but didn't get to finish it. I absolutely will!

C. The English Patient - One of my favorite actors are in this film, Ralph Fiennes. I love this movie also.

D. Steel Magnolias - Oh for wonderful friends!

E. Diary of a mad black woman - Oh yea!

2. What is the most requested favorite meal in your house?

No one requests meals in this house. I am the Queen. Whatever I cook must be eaten. But alas soon they will be older and demanding favorites but for now whatever I cook is eaten :) and I might just make a law and have it signed!

3. Is your husband/partner/significant other into sports? If so, does it irritate you when he/she watches, or do you join in?

Yes my hubs loves sports and watches some of everything. I think he's mostly into football though, both college and pro. I don't mind him watching sports at all and will get in there and cheer for my favorite teams. Ooh you'll find me screaming and egging teams on or whatever :) Team spirit here.

However I like to watch on my own terms. While multi tasking. If I have to sit there and watch because he wants me to, I'll get very irritated.

And I guess you saw part of my Valentine gifts? I don't have any jewelry so this is awesome special.

I'll definitely be visiting you sweeties soon.

Have a joyful week!

NEXT WEEK'S QUESTIONS:
1. Do you like to garden? What are your favorite flowers?
2. Faves: Coke or Pepsi? Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate? Coffee or Tea?
3. What nationality(s) are you? Or what is the primary one?
4. Do you watch the Winter Olympics? What is your favorite sport?

Ciao!

P.s If you have the time, do enter my giveaways if it's something you'd like to win or gift to someone else.

How it works:

1. Read the questions posted here on Eighty MPH Mom.

2. Record a vlog answering the questions.3. Post the Monday Mingle button on right hand side (and/or link to Eighty MPH Mom), along with your vlog on your blog (remember this us an excellent way to bring new readers to your blog). 4. After your post is up, put the link to your blog/mingle in the linky on Eighty MPH Mom (so others can see yours!).

5. Visit the other "minglers" and leave comments. Also try to follow other minglers and maybe they will do the same!

Have fun!

**It is important to link to Eighty MPH Mom, so people can easily find the other minglers.

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

I also want to say thank you to my sweet friend Jenine At Badger Mommafor sharing this award with me! *hugs*
Go visit her. She is fun and snarky and shares lots of giveaways on her blog!

Kailanisays "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!me

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

2/17/10

In my country this is how it's done with pails and the children bring water or we use a hose to wash and rinse by hand. Or sometimes the concrete sink will have a pipe attached so one does not have to carry water.

However we have a wired line to hang clothes with clothes pins.

We found the same thing in Nicaragua on our mission trip there.

There's nothing like seeing lines of laundry blowing in the wind and hot sun and as a child running through it and smelling the fresh scents.

2/16/10

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I want to read it again! I rented this book at the library and got a chance to dive fully into it yesterday while waiting at the car dealership for four hours!

This is my first time reading a C.S. Lewis book and I am so intrigued! I can't wait to read all his other books.
This book really get you thinking more about your life as it comes to the most important ending. Where will you want to be at the end.
The book is very descriptive and definitely holds you captive.
I first found out about this book while reading; Unveiling the mysteries of a woman's soul by John and Staci Elderedge.

2/14/10

If you'd like to join in the fun, do a short vlog on your blog answering the week's questions (however many you choose), post the above button on your site and link up at Eighty MPH Mom. Visit the other participants, learn about them and have fun! Trust me, if I can do it, then you can. Plus you can send in your questions to Jennifer for the next mingle via the form on her site. Come on jump in!

Next week's questions (first question submitted by Susan @ Say It Face to Face/5 Minutes for Mom. Thank you Susan!):

1. Do you have brothers and/or sisters? Growing up did you wish you had more or less siblings?

I did not know that I had siblings until I met my mother at age 22. She then told me I had two half brothers and a sister. I did wish I had siblings while growing up. I tried making a relationship with them when we met but the only relationship that has worked out and stayed constant is with my mother. I met them all in 2004.
I did grow up with 49 other girls and surely wanted less of them! lol

2. Did you have a wedding/first dance song? If so what was it?

Surprisingly we didn't have a dance song. I am sad by that. I love music and would have loved to shake my booty! What better place than your own wedding!
My husband does not like to dance, as a matter a fact , no one in his family will dance unless they are hauled onto the dance floor! They will not dance!
My vow renewal will definitely be all musical!

3. What did you do for Valentine's Day? Any special gifts given or received?

Today is Valentines day. I went to church earlier and now I'm sitting here talking with you. No celebrations today. Later I'll choke on my chocolates and watch one of my favorite actors/movie - Ralph Fienes.
My hubs is working and so he wont be home for a bit. He did promised that we'd do something special when he gets home. And I bought him something I think he'll like.

4. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, tell us something special about your spouse/partner.

My husband gives people time to prove themselves in their own right. He will not judge someone based on what they are doing or not doing with their life at the moment. He will say, give them their seasons and then you'll be able to tell/choose if this is someone you want to associate with.
Everyone has their hard point and we don't always handle things well in the hard point and we all need help and forgiveness.
After their seasons, then you can judge for yourself how you want to interract with a person.
I love that about him and he helps me to see people this way too.

Thank you for visiting. Leave chocolates for me because I'm coming over too!

Happy Valentines day!

P.s If you have the time, do enter my giveaways if it's something you'd like to win or gift to someone else.

Ciao!

Next week's questions:
1. Name your 5 favorite movies
3. What is the most requested/favorite meal in your house?
2. Is your husband/partner/significant other into sports? If so, does it irritate you when he/she watches, or do you join in?

How it works:

1. Read the questions posted here on Eighty MPH Mom.

2. Record a vlog answering the questions.3. Post the Monday Mingle button on right hand side (and/or link to Eighty MPH Mom), along with your vlog on your blog (remember this us an excellent way to bring new readers to your blog). 4. After your post is up, put the link to your blog/mingle in the linky on Eighty MPH Mom (so others can see yours!).

5. Visit the other "minglers" and leave comments. Also try to follow other minglers and maybe they will do the same!

Have fun!

**It is important to link to Eighty MPH Mom, so people can easily find the other minglers.

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

2/12/10

I speak Patois (Jamaican - Caribbean island) and English and a little Spanish.

These awards I received from Alicia from Just One Chic Mommy and also from Christine at Live Laugh Love and Bloggings. Please go visit and you might just make another friend. Thank you ladies. I do appreciate you.
I miss Christine. *HUGS* I hope you are well darling.

Kailanisays "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!me

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

2/11/10

Thank you all for entering this giveaway! I do so appreciate your time and dedication! I wish I could give all a prize.

The winner for this Food processor is Missy.

Congratulations Missy. I have sent you an email.

Thank you all!

********************************************************
If you kitchen already has the bar stool, then you'll definitely want to have the Hamilton Beach Food Processor to cut down on preparation time!

I received another wonderful opportunity to work with CSN Stores with the choice to do a review or giveaway. Again, I choose to do a giveaway to you my readers! I love sharing and I know CSN Stores will benefit from this, as much as I will. Isn't giving great?!

CSN Stores have the best choice of kitchen decor for any home! One of their most popular kitchen decor/dining room site is AllBarstools.com.
Go ahead and click over to see all the great choices they have! I definitely would want the Tricia Gota Adjustable Height Swivel Stool - Customizble! Niiice!

With its powerful 500-watt motor, this full-size 10-cup food processor helps reduce prep time in the kitchen. The unit's large stainless-steel chopping blade slices and minces to perfection, while its reversible stainless disc allows for slicing or shredding. Choose between two speeds or the pulse option for precision results when a light touch is needed. Other highlights include simple controls, an oversized feed chute, and internal cord storage to help keep countertops tidy. The base of the appliance wipes clean easily, and the bowl, lid, and blades are dishwasher-safe.

Features:

2 Speeds with pulse

Oversized feed chute

Chopping blade

Reversable slice disc

Reversable shread disc

Bowl, lid, and blades are dishwasher-safe

Capacity: 10 Cups

Power Consumption: 500 Watts

1 Year Warranty

I really would love to own one of these. I prepare all our meals and we rarely eat out, so this would definitely help make meal preparation go faster and easier! I think I'll add it to my Amazon wishlist :)

I did not receive any form of compensation for this blog post nor the product for review. For more information on this blog and my posting practices, please refer to the disclosure policy below at the bottom of this page.

About the author:
Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.

2/10/10

Neighborhood Watch. lol
And another reason (possibly) why we are trying to get speed bumps.
No. I didn't call the cops. And no I do not know if it was speeding. It was just something that happen in our day and my kids are always excited to see the cops.

About Me

Colette is a busy mom of two children. This LA girl is from the Caribbean and loves the arts, sharing reviews, giveaways and a host of eclectic topics on her website. She is quite busy on the social media circuit and is always up for learning and sharing great ideas that will aid in living a successful lifestyle. Find me at www.jamericanspice